Playoff Scenarios for the New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints clinched a spot on Sunday in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2013. With one week left in the regular season, it's just a matter of where they'll be seeded.

Winning the NFC South is the simple part. A win this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Saints are the NFC South champions and would host a first round playoff game.

They could also lock up the NFC South with a Panthers loss against the Atlanta Falcons.

The best the Black & Gold can do is a number three seed. To get the higher spot, the Saints would need a win and a Los Angeles Rams loss or tie against the San Francisco 49ers. (This is not as far-fetched as you would think since the 49ers have won four straight.)

If the Saints are the number three seed, they would host either Atlanta or Seattle in the first round. A four seed would see them welcoming Carolina back to the 'Dome for the first playoff game.

And by some chance the Saints would lose and Carolina win, then they would travel to either Carolina or Los Angeles as the wild card and fifth seed.